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Phytoestrogens Associated with Favorable Cardiovascular Risk Profile – (02-04-02)

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Phytoestrogens Associated with Favorable Cardiovascular Risk Profile

Remember research a few weeks back that found that high dose phytoestrogen did not affect blood lipids? I had to comment that the study used high dose phytoestrogen extract, not the whole food.

This article addresses phytoestrogen intake as a part of the diet and found favorable outcomes. I firmly believe that soy and other phytoestrogen containing foods are an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.

nutrition.org — Abstracts: de Kleijn et al. 132 (2): 276

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Soy’s Protective Cardiovascular Effects – (07-12-01)

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Soy Has Both Beneficial & Potentially Adverse Cardiovascular Effects

This is another research article pointing to the beneficial effects of soy. This one does point out some of the potentially adverse effects, noting that Lp (a) increased and a decline in endothelial function in males. First of all, when looking at these adverse effects, we can consider it two steps backward for three forward. Also, this study once again looked at portions of soy, not the whole food. And, in a complete and balanced diet with fruits and vegetables other factors may mediate these adverse effects.

JCEM — Abstracts: Teede et al. 86 (7): 3053

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Flaxseed alters estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal women – (02-16-04)

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Flaxseed alters estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal women greater than supplementation with an equal amount of soy

I am a big fan of both flaxseed supplementation and soy products (NOT supplements) as part of healthy lifestyle. However, I usually recommend grinding your own flaxseed which most patients find difficult to do on regular basis. Remember that the lignans are not present in the oil supplements. So, just because this study suggests that flax may be better than soy as it relates to estrogen metabolism, both have additional health benefits unrelated to their effects on estrogen metabolism and both should be part of a healthy lifestyle.

AJCN — Abstracts: Brooks et al. 79 (2): 318 –

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Antibiotic Use in Relation to the Risk of Breast Cancer – (03-01-04)

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Antibiotic Use in Relation to the Risk of Breast Cancer

While the author does not suggest this as a possible mechanism, I would offer that destruction of normal flora by antibiotics is the key. Normal flora is known to convert isoflavones in soy and flax into compounds like equol and enterolactone that then confer lowered risk of estrogen dependent cancers. These bacteria are also a source of B12. They also have detoxification systems that can break down certain toxins before the toxins get a chance to be absorbed. Maybe one day we will begin to look beyond antibiotic resistance and see that the true negative effect of antibiotic overuse is destruction of normal flora.

JAMA — Abstracts: Velicer et al. 291 (7): 827 –

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FACTORS TO DETERMINE EFFECT OF PROTEINS ON SHORT TERM FOOD INTAKE – (11-21-04)

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Protein Source, Quantity, and Time of Consumption Determine the Effect of Proteins on Short-Term Food Intake

This is an interesting article that begins to fill in some of the details of healthy lifestyles. We all know that we HAVE to eat breakfast. But, some will not eat right away, or will not always choose the healthiest items to eat.

This study found that eating earlier (by 9:10 AM) was much more effective at suppressing appetite than eating a little later. Also, soy and whey protein was much more effective, while egg albumin actually increased caloric intake. So the old eggs for breakfast may not be the best option.

Protein Source, Quantity, and Time of Consumption Determine the Effect of Proteins on Short-Term Food Intake in Young Men — ..

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Role of isoflavones on estrogen metabolism in premenopausal women – (03-28-02)

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Role of isoflavones on estrogen metabolism in premenopausal women

The author of this study concludes that soy products may be an important tool for breast cancer reduction. Remember, however, that nature gave us soy with all the varying components intake, and the isolation, purification and mass production of individual compounds that we think are the most important may not yield similar results. Soy is just one component of a healthy lifestyle.

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Allergy to soy and extensively hydrolyzed whey formula in infants – (03-28-02)

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Allergy to soy and extensively hydrolyzed whey formula in infants

As much as I am against dairy, I am not strongly in support of soy formula for infants either. Breastfeeding is unquestionably the best source of nutrition for infants and every effort should be made to keep infants breastfeeding. Too often I hear of patients who stopped breastfeeding due to thrush or GI complaints in the infants. Most if not all of these side effects can be fixed by changing the maternal diet. If formula is needed, I strongly support a hydrolyzed formula. I don’t care whether an infant is given cow’s milk or soy formula–that much exposure to a developing GI tract is not good. The hydrolyzed formula has less proteins for the infant to react to.

Journal of Pediatrics Online

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SOY INTAKE IS PROTECTIVE FOR THE BONE – (05-15-06)

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Cooperative effects of isoflavones and exercise on bone and lipid metabolism in postmenopausal Japanese women

The study strongly illustrates the brilliant orchestra that is our physiology and how, unless researchers understand this dynamic, the wrong message can make it to the public. The isoflavones in soy have been found to be protective for bone, but not in every study. As it turns out, the isoflavones in soy have to been acted on the correct bacteria in the gut to produce equol. Equol is the compound that has consistently been found to protect bone. So, while soy may be protective to bone, this benefit may be reduced in those patients who have ever been on antibiotics or have a disturbed bacterial flora.

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